Health Canada announced on Tuesday that a significant number of individuals were mistakenly granted coverage under the public dental insurance program. According to a Health Canada news release, approximately 70,000 people were initially approved for coverage but were later found to be ineligible or had been assessed incorrectly for copayment levels. Out of this group, around 28,000 individuals received dental care under the program despite the inaccurate assessments.
The error was attributed to a miscalculation in income assessment during the eligibility determination process. Health Canada has already rectified this issue with a system update. Fortunately, those who received care under the program will not be required to reimburse the amount covered by the public insurance plan.
While Health Canada has highlighted that over five million Canadians are covered by the program, only about three million have utilized the coverage. The national insurance initiative aims to subsidize dental care costs for Canadian residents with a family net income below $90,000 who lack access to private insurance. Services covered by the program include cleanings, fillings, and dentures, with an average annual expense coverage of $800 per patient.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan was initially rolled out in May 2024 for seniors, children, and individuals receiving the disability tax credit. By May 2025, the program had expanded to include all eligible Canadians. This multibillion-dollar public insurance program was introduced following a collaboration between the NDP and the previous Trudeau Liberal minority government, which supported major social programs like dental care in exchange for political backing in the House of Commons.